ever, on reading a little further, we soon recognized a child of our own fancy that promised well, and has realized all the sayings we gave it in our February number of 1864, by its doings ever since. We take this opportunity of again commending it to our readers, and especially to the owners, as well as the commanders, of our iron or copperbottomed, or any other metal-bottomed merchant craft, that are afflicted by the growth of that abominable nuisance to fast sailing, "the weed." They will find some good testimony concerning it in our present number, from the patronage of her Majesty's yacht, as well as others of her Majesty's ships. We said it was the right thing long ago, and all that is required is to put it in the right place, that is, on every ship's bottom, foul, weedy or not, that is afloat. It is generally agreed that prevention is better than cure, and no ship that is supplied with Phillips's Hog need be allowed to get a foul bottom. By its timely use there can be no chance of the weed growing.

The following arrival from America was announced in the Daily News of the 18th of August last :

EXTRAORDINARY VOYAGE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.-On Thursday afternoon a fully-rigged vessel, of two tons burthen, named the Red, White, and Blue, (master and commandant J. M. Hudson, of New York), entered Margate Harbour, having completed a most daring and extraordinary voyage from America in thirty-eight days. Her crew consisted of two men, who were accompanied by a dog. She is built on the lifeboat principle (of metal), has air-tight compartments, and is only twenty-six feet long-about the length of a small sailing boat. She experienced a rough voyage, and the crew have determined, on their return journey, not to risk their lives by again attempting so daring and extraordinary an adventure. They had several narrow escapes from being washed overboard.

This little craft, which turns out to be a small boat, was sought for and lodged among the "curiosities" of the Crystal Palace, for the benefit ot those who love to see such wonderful little things. But the novelty somehow has been suspected, and serious doubts are entertained that the fact of the feat of crossing the stormy Atlantic on her own bot. tom on the ocean was ever done by her, and that she, like other boats, was simply carried over, although she was set afloat off Margate as a gull for John Bull. In this exigency, some paper comes to her assistance thus:

Some persons are asking if the little vessel Red, White, and Blue is the property of Barnum. It is known to have left New York and to have been again seen off the Start; but there seems some doubt whether between those wide points she sailed or was carried. Such a feat as ocean navigation by a very small vessel is not unprecedented. Seven years since, three Cornish fishermen, in an open Cornish boat of small tonnage, sailed from the little port of Newlyn, Penzance, and safely traversed the Atlantic to the Cape of Good Hope, and the Indian Ocean to Melbourne, where they arrived "all well!"

Well done Sydney :—

"The inhabitants of Sydney have resolved to erect a monument in their town to commemorate the discovery of their country by Captain Cook. The monument is to be completed in 1870, in which year precisely one century will have elapsed since the discovery of New South Wales by the English navigator."

We have heard of something of the same kind at the Sandwich Islands, named by Cook on account of the Earl of Sandwich being First Lord of the Admiralty at the time of their discovery.

While our present number bears testimony to the successful completion of the cable of 1865, those of the British Channel seem to have been suffering from the severe gales of late, proving them to be less secure than even that giant undertaking. But we quite agree that as we now have two lines to America we should have more than three to France.

"The submarine cables, (says the Moniteur), connecting the coasts of France and England have recently sustained injuries of a nature to interrupt the communications between Paris and London. The cables belonging to the Submarine Telegraph Company of the Channel are three in number. Whilst that from Calais was being repaired, that between Boulogne and Folkestone, containing six wires, was accidentally broken on the 9th day of September. The transmission of despatches can now only be effected by the line from Dieppe to Beachy Head. The conducting wires, four in number, which join the submarine cable on the English territory, are insufficient for the rapid interchange of numerous despatches between the two countries. The telegraph communications between Paris and London will therefore be liable to considerable delays till the two submarine lines are reestablished by the company."

CHARTS AND BOOKS PUBLISHED BY THE HYDROGRAPHIC OFFICE, ADMIRALTY, in September, 1866.-Sold by the Agent, J. D. Potter, 31, Poultry, and 11, King Street, Tower Hill, London.

2,750.-Scotland, West Coast, Skiport Loch, Captain Otter, R.N., 1863, (1s. 6d.)

2,373.-Baltic Sea, Riga Gulf, Russian survey, 1862, (2s. 6d.)

1,159.-Mediterranean Sea, Barbary Coast, Soussa to Mehadiah, with Kuriat Islands, Commander Wilkinson, R.N., 1864, (1s. 6d.)

1,676.-Ionian Sea, Patras Gulf, and Views, Captain Mansell, R.N., 1865, 1s. 6d.)

744.-Cape Ramas to Alvagudda, Lieutenant A. D. Taylor, I.N., 1855, corrections to 1866, (2s. 6d.)

EDWARD DUNSTERVILLE, Commander, R.N.

Admiralty, Hydrographic Office, 20th September, 1866.

THE

NAUTICAL MAGAZINE

AND

Naval Chronicle.

NOVEMBER, 1866.

THE LITTLE MINCH CHANNEL.

How to select a subject:-How to commence it:-How to treat it when commenced so that it will please everybody:-Who shall do all this? Certainly no juvenile pen like mine. Therefore I take my lesson from the celebrated painter who failed in that attempt at pleasing every one long ago, and shall strive to please no one but myself in this my essay in authorship. And considering it is but a few lines of a journal, I shall be satisfied if hereafter the mariner should find anything in it of service to his craft. My experience in the navigation of the Minch has been collected in storm and calm, in snow and fog, amidst those difficulties and dangers with which it abounds, as my notes in their first rough condition would amply testify. But here they are, stripped of the effects of the haste and hurry with which they were consigned to paper, and dressed in holiday attire fit to appear before gentlemen. Their more especial tendency will perhaps be found as giving some idea of the weather in that remarkable channel the little Minch; to describe the sudden changes from a quiet calm to a tempestuous raging sea, that will prepare the navigator for what he is to expect there; the products of the waters will have a small share of remark, down from the huge cod fish to the delicate velella, and on the surface of the waters living masses of glittering salpæ and medusæ; the grandeur of Skye Island on the one hand; on the other, the almost inundated flats of Uist land. Nor will the bright aurora or the brilliant meteor with those subjects fail to supply food for contemplation and interesting employment of the mind of him who wanders to these NO. 11.-VOL. XXXV.

4 B

shores in the course of his vacation for the sake of health and recreation. And even the navigator may find a few hints here that may serve him as a useful lesson of warning about lurking dangers in his path, that if unheeded might send his barque to the realms of destruction. With these preliminaries as to object, place, and intention, it may be first stated that the Little Minch is the name of a channel or strait in contradistinction to the Great one to the northward of it. By referring to a map of the United Kingdom, or Scotland only with the Western Isles, it will be seen that the Little Minch is a channel from thirteen to twenty-four miles wide, occupying a position between the Isle of Skye and the Hebrides or Western Isles of Scotland, on the West shores of Inverness and Rosshire. The navigator who has passed through it knows well that it is exposed to the whole fury of the Atlantic Ocean, being entirely open to its southerly gales, and consequently is very seldom in an undisturbed or tranquil state. It is nevertheless the highway of vessels running between the ports of this country and those of Norway, Sweden, Lapland, Prussia, and Russia, carrying timber, tar, tallow, flax, &c. As might be supposed, in so important and extended a trade, vessels of heavy burden, and many smaller ones, frequent its waters in passing to the West coast of Scotland, England, or Ireland.

Considering the Little Minch as being included between the shores of Skye and the Western Isles, terminating in the North from Scalpa in Harris to the North extreme of Skye; and South from Ushenish Lighthouse to Loch Bhracadil in Skye; the area of water surface which it contains is about 500 square miles: all of which has been minutely sounded, rocks, dangers, and fishing banks carefully searched for, and their places assigned them in the chart.

The greatest depth of water in it is 111 fathoms (666 feet), off Dunvegan Head; and the least depth at a moderate distance (one mile) from the shores, 18 to 25 fathoms. It does not contain a single known hidden danger, except at its northern extreme, that will be mentioned

in its turn.

The Little Minch contains three fishing banks, having depths from 23 to 35 fathoms, the ground composed of sand, shells, and sometimes rock, and perhaps some gravel. The most extensive of these banks is that midway between Lochs Maddy and Dunvegan, having a rock in the middle of it, with 23 fathoms over it. Another bank stands off Ben Ival in North Uist, and a third, with 21 fathoms, off Wiah Island.

The Dusgeir Rocks are always to be seen South of MacLeod's Tables, about one mile and a half from the shore. A short distance South of them is excellent cod fishing, in 14 to 20 fathoms. It is advisable, however, that vessels should not go inside of these rocks.

The Isle of Skye (which literally means misty) and indeed a better name could not be found, if we may except the more appropriate term "rainy," has the most imposing wild magnificent scenery imaginable, scenery which will well repay the traveller or tourist for his visit. The headlands of Dunvegan, Vatersteine, and Pooltiel, of 1,000 feet eleva

tion, are nearly perpendicular faces of rock from the sea, over which they look, and there is also a depth of 420 feet water at scarcely a mile from the former. The MacLeod Maidens are backed by peculiar flat topped mountains, of 1,500 feet elevation, called M'Leods Tables! The West side the Minch is very much sheltered from the sea and its westerly gales, by the isles of Harris and North and South Uist, which translated simply means western lands. An entrance from the western sea lies between the two former, named the Sound of Harris. A chart of this sound has been lately compiled by the captain and officers of the Porcupine and Seagull, that gives a good idea of this labyrinth of rocks and shoals, showing the laborious, hazardous, and even dangerous task it must have been to construct. The sound has a good

channel, which, with moderate caution, may be used by vessels of any burthen, affording them shelter from the fierce and boisterous Atlantic, and a safe entrance into the comparatively tranquil waters of the Little Minch.

On the East side of the Minch vessels will find shelter from prevalent gales in Lochs Bhracadil, Dunvegan, Snizort, and Pooltiel. Indeed they afford snug anchorage in any weather, excepting the latter, which is open to N.W. and West winds. There is also a small anchorage under Neist Point, near Vatersteine Head, but which is not recommended excepting in daytime; the depth of water is 7 fathoms.

On the western side of the Minch the anchorages are numerous, and much frequented by vessels bound to the southward. Every loch affords a shelter, and the principal are, Lochs Tarbert, Greosavagh, Stokenisk, and Rodel in the Isle of Harris. Lochs Maddy, Evort, Bahnacaplich, Uskevagh, and Loep, in North Uist; and in South Uist are Lochs Skiport, Ainneart, and Brisdale, with many smaller anchorages for coasters.

We will now ask the reader to turn his attention to the dangers of the navigation and the mode of avoiding them. To the mariner they already have appeared so formidable that he will naturally and anxiously wish to have them at a respectful distance.

The southern entrance to the Minch is quite free from dangers, and the yacht or even the deeply laden barque may fearlessly run into it. But at the north-eastern entrance there are some to be carefully avoided. These are, Sgeir i noe, Sgeir Graitich, Eugénie Rock, (on which a vessel of that name was lately wrecked,) Sgeir na mule, Ghiant South Rock, about 2 to 3 miles South-westerly of Ghiant Isles; this is however, out of the limits of the Little Minch. These are what may be termed hidden dangers, but with the simple yet sufficient directions lately compiled by Captain Otter, of the Porcupine, they may be all easily avoided.

1. Sgeir i noe (new rock) is only 3 feet above low water spring tides, and about 50 yards in extent when dry, On its western extreme there is shoal water for a short distance, near which a black buoy is placed.

2. Sgeir Graitich (nameless rock) is of small extent and uncovered at low water. A cast iron beacon, 46 feet high, stands on it.